Jammu, Aug 4: The Department of Lifelong Learning at the University of Jammu Thursday organized a special extension lecture on ‘The Truth about Global Warming: A Case Study of Glaciers in Ladakh.’
 Professor Rajinder Kumar Ganjoo, Director, Institute of Himalayan Glaciology, University of Jammu dwelt at length on the issue, particularly on the various cycles of climate change.
 Ganjoo focused on the facts about global warming and climate change. “After the controversial statement by Prof. Hasnain on the complete melting of Himalayan glaciers by 2025 AD that was very widely quoted in the reports of WWF (World Wildlife Fund) and IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), it became absolutely essential for the people working on climate to educate non-scientists about the facts and myths of global warming and climate change,” Ganjoo said.
 He said:  “The glaciers of Ladakh have behaved totally differently from the glaciers of rest of the world. I have studied the glaciers in Ladakh region for the past two decades and have observed that they have largely remained unaffected by change in climate. Some of these glaciers have a monitoring record of more than a century to convince that change in glaciers is not because of warming of climate but several other factors that are not well understood yet.”
 Speaking at the occasion, Prof Poonam Dhawan, Director DLL said that global warming is one of the most important issues before the world community today. “The rising temperatures globally, the rising of sea-levels and unpredictable weather conditions are the issues which are being debated by all the countries,” she said, adding, “The DLL is spreading awareness about this issue through its various programmes in schools, colleges and the university.”
 Dr. Kavita Suri, Assistant Director at DLL said there are many notions about global warming and “what we witnessed in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir last year when hundreds of lives were lost due to flash floods is also being attributed to the global warming.”
 She said in Ladakh only, the issue of the melting glaciers of Himalayan region is attracting the attention of researchers worldwide.
 Others who spoke on the occasion include Dr. CM Seth, Prof Baidyanath Labh, Prof Anil Raina and Dr Sanjay Sharma.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 4 Aug 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 4 Aug 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 5 Aug 2011 00:00:00 IST